The increasing popularity and selection of electric vehicles (EVs) represent a huge shift towards sustainability and innovation in the automotive industry. This transition, however, introduces new challenges in vehicle design, particularly when it comes to in-cabin acoustics. As the hum of internal combustion engines fades away, the focus shifts towards minimizing other sources of noise, with wind noise emerging as a primary concern. This makes wind noise testing an increasingly important discipline, and sophisticated techniques like wind tunnel tests are moving from an expensive luxury to an expensive necessity – meaning engineers need to get their measurements right, and fast.

Many manufacturers of audio devices contend with the ongoing challenge of production across global factories. Since the global pandemic in 2020, contract manufacturers have increasingly diversified their production lines across multiple regions rather than centralizing them in one location. While this shift enhances operational flexibility, it also introduces unique challenges. Among these challenges, the reliability of production line microphones used for testing audio performance to ensure the quality of final products.

The increasing popularity and growing offering of electric vehicles (EVs), are changing many aspects associated with vehicle sound and acoustics (see our posts related to the in-cabin soundscape of the EV, for example). The classic issue of pass-by noise testing is no exception. Still a crucial aspect of automotive design and regulation, it has evolved to ensure that EVs (and other vehicles) not only meet the maximum noise limits set by various national and international regulations, but also adhere to new minimum noise requirements.

At GRAS Sound & Vibration, we’re always proud and honored whenever we see cool examples of our solutions contributing to new developments and real-world change. This time, it’s in the field of hearing protection. An article by USNI News, the news publication of the U.S. Naval Institute, highlights how the U.S. Navy is testing 3D technology to create custom-fitted earplugs.  According to the article, hearing damage is the U.S. military’s top injury, believed to affect some 140.000 service members annually, so tackling noise-induced hearing damage is a priority. Reading the article, we immediately noticed our GRAS 45CB Acoustic Test Fixture in one of the accompanying photos.

[Translate to Chinese (Simplified):] Acoustics involves the study of sound, noise, and vibration. Understanding the acoustic performance of a product is crucial, as different devices have varying acceptable noise levels. Acoustic testing evaluates how a product will perform in real-world environments and identifies whether adjustments are needed to minimize noise. Manufacturers across many industries rely on acoustic testing to establish these performance benchmarks. 

Acoustic quality and design are essential components of product performance. Sounds significantly influence how a product’s features and functionality are perceived, while also supporting its brand identity. At the same time, manufacturers face increasing regulatory demands and competitive pressure to reduce noise levels and comply with strict noise-making or noise-limiting standards. Engineers require efficient tools to design, refine, and validate prototypes throughout the development process. 

Therefore, acoustic testing solutions must be versatile, adapting to a wide range of industry applications and engineering tasks, all while adhering to the latest international standards.